Chair construction

ABSTRACT

A chair construction comprising a frame in the form of a pair of L-shaped rigid frame members, defining the frame back and seat reinforcing portions secured together in side by side spaced apart relation by a pair of cross members applied between the frame member seat portions, contoured seat and back upholstery plates each having a separate cushion pad applied thereto, with the plates being made fast to the frame and between said frame members to form a seat subassembly, and with the plates having their side edges aligned about the rim of the subassembly, and a one piece shell of concavo-convex, L-shaped configuration having a continuous rim thereabout substantially complementing that of the subassembly, with the subassembly received in the shell and the shell secured to the subassembly at an indentation formed in the underseat portion of the shell, and about the rims of the shell and subassembly. A molding about the rim of the shell masks the fastening elements about the shell rim and forms a bumper for the chair, and a conventional chair base is affixed to the frame at the shell indentation.

United States Patent [191 Massaccesi CHAIR CONSTRUCTION [75] Inventor:Raymond A. Massaccesi, Lombard,

[73] Assignee: All-Steel Inc., Aurora, 111.

[22] Filed: May 26, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 257,249

[52] US. Cl 297/455, 297/449, 297/451 [51] Int. Cl A47c 7/02, A47c 1/12[58] Field of Search 297/454-455, 420-421,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,642,126 6/1953 Grabendike297/451 3,026,145 3/1962 Galbraith 297/458 UX 3,159,428 12/1964 Schier297/455 X 3,182,377 5/1965 Hoven et al. 297/DIG. 2 3,223,450 12/1965Pollock 297/454 X 3,298,743 1/1967 Albinson et a1 297/445 3,482,87412/1969 Henebry et a]. 297/452 X 3,630,566 12/1971 Barecki 297/4543,669,499 6/1972 Semplonius 297/455 3,476,342 11/1969 Motl et a1.297/445 X 2,965,161 12/1960 Knoll 297/440 Jan. 29, 1974 PrimaryExaminer-Paul R. Gilliam Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert C. Brown, Jr.et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A chair construction comprising a frame in the form of apair of L-shaped rigid frame members, defining the frame back and seatreinforcing portions secured together in side by side spaced apartrelation by a pair of cross members applied between the frame memberseat portions, contoured seat and back upholstery plates each having aseparate cushion pad applied thereto, with the plates being made fast tothe frame and between said frame members to form a seat subassembly, andwith the plates having their side edges aligned about the rim of thesubassembly, and a one piece shell of concave-convex, L-shapedconfiguration having a continuous rim thereabout substantiallycomplementing that of the subassembly, with the subassembly received inthe shell and the shell secured to the subassembly at an indentationformed in the underseat portion of the shell, and about the rims of theshell and subassembly, A molding about the rim of the shell masks thefastening elements about the shell rim and forms a bumper for the chair,and a conventional chair base is affixed to the frame at the shellindentation.

7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 29 m4 SHEEI 1 [IF 3 F l|||l IIommgnm 2 9 m1 SHEET 3 [IF 3 CHAIR CONSTRUCTION This invention relates toa chair construction, and more particularly, to a chair construction foroffice use.

A number of existing chair constructions for office use involve the useof an outer plastic shell that defines the visible portion of the chairback and seat underportion and that is shaped to define continuoussweeping curves from the top to the front of the chair and give theimpression of sitting into a comfortable wraparound bucket seat.Existing constructions of this type, while having some appeal to thetrade because of the aesthetic effect involved, have proved to be overlyexpensive due to the manner in which the parts are secured together, andthe fact that in a number of these arrangements, the outer shell forms apart of the load bearing structure of the chair.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a chairconstruction employing a one piece L- shaped shell that defines the backand undersurface of the chair and gives the desired smoothly roundedshell contour, in which the shell has essentially no load carryingfunctions and is secured to an Lshaped seat subassembly defined by anL-shaped rigid frame that forms the chassis of the chair and has securedto it the chair cushioning and the chair supporting base, as well as thechair arms (where employed).

Another principal object of the invention is to provide a chairconstruction in which the load bearing structure of the chair is aseparate subassembly of L- shaped form defining seat and back portionsto which is attached a non-load bearing shell that provides thedistinctive shell shape, and which is arranged at the underseat portionof same for ready securement to the chair frame, through the shell, ofthe chair base employed.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a chair constructionutilizing a non-structural and primarily decorative shell that forms theback and bottom of the chair seat, in conjunction with a rigidload-bearing frame that carries the chair cushions which frame isconnected to the chair base through restricted and isolated portions ofthe shell, to provide a method of making a chair construction of thetype indicated, and to provide an office furniture oriented chairarrangement that is economical of manufacture, distinctive inappearance, and long lived in use.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a chair arrangementemploying a seat subassembly comprising an L-shaped frame, formed by apair of L shaped members fixed together in side by side spaced apartrelation, and mounting seat and back upholstery plates to which areapplied separate seat cushions, with the side edges of the plates beingaligned about the rim of the subassembly, which is received in a onepiece concavo-convex shell of L-shaped configuration that has nosubstantial load bearing function, and has its underseat portionindented upwardly to mask the attachment of same, and the chair base, tothe frame. The shell defines a rim that complements the rim of the seatsubassembly, and the seat subassembly and shell rims are securedtogether by fastening screws that are masked by a molding or trimapplied about the shell rim. The back of the frame subassembly is shapedwith a reverse bend to complement the back side of the human anatomywhen seated. Chair arms of open centered, quadrilateral configurationare secured (when employed) to the frame subassembly, and are shaped forcomplementary positioning adjacent the frame subassembly back and seat.Seat cushions are secured to the respective upholstery plates by adecorator fabric stretched against the same and having its edges stapledagainst the back side of the respective plates to hold them in place.

Other objects, uses and advantages will be obvious or become apparentfrom a consideration of the following detailed description and theapplication drawings.

In the drawings: 2

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a chair arranged inaccordance with this invention, with the chair arms shown in outlineform;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the load supporting frame that isemployed in connection with the chair of FIG. 1, with parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the frame shown in FIG. 2, taken fromthe left hand side of FIG. 2, with parts broken away;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are rear and bottom views, respectively, of the frames ofFIGS. 2 and 3, shown having applied thereto the cushion bearingupholstery plates, to form the seat subassembly of the chair of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view through the chair seat,taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIG. 1, indicating the manner inwhich the seat frame, the chair shell, and the chair base are securedtogether;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the chair shown in FIG. 1, withparts broken away along line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic sectional view through the back of the chair,taken substantially along lines 88 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a typical cross-sectional view of the molding that is used inconnection with the chair shell, on an enlarged scale to better bringout the details of the molding, with the shell rim to which it isapplied being shown in outline.

However, it is to be understood that the specific drawing illustrationsprovided are supplied primarily to comply with the requirements of thePatent Laws, and that the invention may have other embodiments that willbe obvious to those skilled in the art, and that are intended to becovered by the appended claims.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION Reference numeral 10 of FIG. 1 generally indicates achair construction in accordance with the present invention comprisingseat .structure 12 mounted on a suitable conventional chair base 14.Chair 10 is arranged specifically for use as an office furniture chairfor use in conjuction with desks and the like.

The chair seat 12 generally comprises a rigid skeletal frame 16 (seeFIGS. 2 5), comprising a pair of rigid frame members 18 and 20 securedrigidly together in spaced apart side by side parallel relation by apair of spaced cross members 22 and 24.

Affixed to the frame 16 is a seat bottom plate 26 and a pair of seatback plates 28 and 30 that are secured to and between frame members 18and 20 by suitable fastening devices, such as screws 32 in the case ofplate 26, and screws 34 in the case of plates 28 and 30 (see FIGS. 4 and5). Plates 26, 28 and 30 are formed from a suitable plastic material,contoured substantially in the manner indicated in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, andeach upholstery plate has secured thereto its own cushion pad andcovering therefor. In the case of the plate 26, it has cushion padsecured thereto by a covering fabric 42 of a suitable decorator typethat is stretched tightly against the cushion from all sides and has itsedges 44 fixed to the back side of the plate by suitable staples 46.

In the case of plate 28, pad 48 is secured thereagainst by fabriccovering 50 of a suitable decorator type that is stretched tight againstthe pad 48 and has its edges 52 secured to the back of the plate 28 bysuitable staples 54.

Similarly, upholstery plate 30 has pad 56 secured thereagainst by fabriccovering 58 stretched tight against the pad 56 and having its edges 60affixed to the back side of the plate by suitable staples 62.

The frame 16, upholstery plates 26, 28 and 30, and the cushion pads theycarry form the seat subassembly 64 that is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 that,in accordance with this invention, is operably associated with shell 66that is generally L-shaped, concave-convex, in configuration, and isproportioned to receive the subassembly 64, with the seating area of thechair facing outwardly of the shell 66.

As indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the decorator plates 26, 28 and 30 areproportioned so that their side edges are aligned to define a rimportion 68 for the subassembly 64 that is received in substantialcomplementary relation with a corresponding rim portion 70 defined byshell 66. The rim portions 68 and 70 of the seat subassembly 64 andshell 66 are secured together thereabout by suitable screws 72 that aremasked by a molding 74 carried by the rim portion 70 of the shell 66.

As indicated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the shell 66 defines a smoothly contouredseat back portion 76 which merges into a smoothly contoured seatunderportion 78, with the outwardly facing surface 80 of the shell beingconvexly rounded in configuration, except for indentation 82 that isformed in theseat underportion 78 to receive the upper end of the chairbase for connection of same to frame 16. I

In accordance with the embodiment illustrated, the conventional upperend of the housing 84 that houses the usual base swiveling and/ortilting mechanism 85 is secured to the respective frame cross members 22and 24 by suitable bolts 86 applied through holes 88 formed in shell 66and holes 89 formed in the respective cross members 22 and 24 to weldnuts 91 carried thereby. This, of course, also secures the shell 66 tothe frame 16, but in accordance with this invention, the onlyconnections of the shell 66 to the-frame 16 are by way of the bolts 86and the screws 72 that fix the shell rim portion 70 to the seatsubassembly rim portion 68.

Where chair arms are desired, the invention contemplates chair arms 88and 90, which in accordance with this invention are to form a part ofsubassembly 64 by being secured to same prior to the application ofsubassembly 64 to the shell 66. For this purpose, the arms 88 and arerespectively provided with a pair of spaced apart attachment lugs 92 and94, respectively, which are affixed to correspondingly located spacedapart brackets 96 and 98 by employing suitable fastener devices 100.

However, where the chair 10 is to be armless, arms 88 and 90 would beomitted, together with their brackets 96 and 98.

As indicated in FIGS. 2 and 7, the seat subassembly 64 defines a seatback portion 102 which is generally contoured to conform to the backside of the human anatomy when seated, and for this purpose defines thereverse bend that is generally indicated by reference numeral 104 andthat projects forwardly in the nature of an apex. The seat subassembly64, of course, further defines the chair seat portion 106 that the chairuser sits on.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION The components making up frame 16 are formed from asuitable metallic substance, such as steel. The frame members 18 and 20in the form shown are tubular in nature and are quadrilateral incross-sectional configuration (square in the form shown). As indicatedin FIGS. 2, members 18 and 20 each define a chair back portion 110 and achair seat portion 112, with the portions 110 and 112 merging togetherin a smoothly rounded curved portion 114. The back portion 110 is notstraight throughout its length, but in the form shown includesrectilinear segments 116 and 118 that merge together at curve portion120 to define the reverse bend or curve 104.

Members 18 and 20 are formed with suitable holes 122 to accommodatescrews 34.

Cross members 22 and 24 are of the hat style channel-shapedcross-sectional configuration indicated in FIG. 7 and each thus definesspaced side walls and 132 joined together by web 134 and havinglaterally extending flanges or wings 136 projecting outwardly of thewalls 130 and 132.

The members 22 and 24 are curvilinear transversely of the chair (seeFIG. 6) and are suitably affixed to the frame members 18 and 20, as bywelding. In the form shown, the walls 130 and 132 of the respectivemembers 22 and 24 are recessed to receive the portions 112 of therespective members 18 and 20, with the wall 134 and flanges or wings 136being applied thereto in overlapping relation, and the parts suitablywelded together. Weld nuts 91 are affixed to webs 134 of the respectivemembers 22 and 24 adjacent holes 89 and each includes a tapped opening137 to which the respective screws 86 are applied.

Where the chair is to have arms 88 and 90, the frame 16 includes thebrackets 96 and 98, each of which comprises a member 140 ofchannel-shaped cross-sectional configuration formed from steel or thelike and'defining web 142, side flanges 144 and 146- and a tab 147projecting from end 148 of member 140. The end 148 of the member 140 andits tab 147 are fixed as, by welding, to the respective members 18 and20 in the positions indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3 for each member 140,wherein members 140 are upwardly inclined, with their ends 149projecting away from frame 16, to accommodate the contour of the shell66 and have applied thereto the respective lugs 92 and 94 of the respective handles 88 and 90. Members 140 are formed with suitableopenings 149 to receive screws 150 that secure the respective handlelugs to the respective members 140.

The upholstery plates 26, 28 and 30 are preferably formed from asuitable plastic material, such as styrene. Where formed by a moldingoperation, the screws 32 and 34 will be of the self tapping type, but ifthe plates 26, 28 and 30 are vacuum formed, a nut may be embedded in theplastic plates at each location of the screws 32 and 34, in which casethe latter may be stan- 'dard screws. Plate 26 and frame members 22 and24 are arced in a complementary manner (see FIG. 6) and plates 28 and 30arced as suggested in FIG. 8, for conformity with body contour.

The plates 26, 28 and 30 at their edges that form a part of the rimportion 68 of seat assembly are shaped to define an angled flange 160 towhich the screws 72, which may be of the self tapping type, are appliedto secure the shell 66 to the respective plates.

Thus, the flange I60 appears along the front edge 162 and side edges 164of bottom plate 26, the side edges 166 of back plate 28, and the sideedges 168 and top edge 170 of back plate 30, with the flange 160 beingangled appropriately in each instance for ready application of thesecuring screws 72 (see FIGS. 6, 7 and 8).

As indicated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the screws 32 that secure bottom plate 26in place are applied to adjacent flanges 136 of the respective crossmembers 22 and 24, and adjacent the ends of these members.

The cushion pads 40, 48 and 60 may be formed from any suitablecushioning material, such as a neoprene or soft plastic foam. The coverfabrics 42, 50 and 58 may be of any suitable decorator fabric or thelike that will serve the purpose. Tufting may be employed as desired,with this being effected before application of the upholstery plates tothe frame 16.

While upholstery plates 28 and 30 are separate in the form illustrated,they may be secured together along their adjacent edges, as byapplication to a steel strip with screws, and then be upholstered as onecushion to define the general outline indicated in the drawing withoutthe joint that appears at reverse bend 104.

The chair arms 88 and 90 are preferably formed from a suitable phenolic,ac'rylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material, though they alternatelymay be die cast aluminum. Each arm is a one piece component having abody portion 180 (see FIG. 7) of generally quadrilateral, open centered,trapezoidal configuration. The body 180 of each arm defines rectilinearportions 182, 184, 186 and 188, which the rectilinear portion 188 ofeach arm being in substantial parallelism with the portion 116 of framemembers 18 and 20, while the arm portion 186 is in substantialparallelism with the portions of the seat assembly and shell rims thatunderline same (see FIG. 7). The jucture of the seat bottom and backportions, the shell and seat assembly rims, and thus the molding 74,defines circular curve configuration 190, and the curved corner 192 ofthe respective handle bodies 180 is in complementary relation thereto.The other curved corners 194, 196 and 198 join the handle portionsindicated with the curved configurations indicated.

In the form shown, the handle lugs 92 and 94 have nut inserts 200embedded therein with which the respective securing screws 150 cooperateto secure the respective lugs to the respective bracket members 140.Inserts 200 in the form shown comprise threaded sleeves 201ultrasonically welded in place. Screws 150 and inserts 200 form therespective fastener devices 100, with handle lugs 92 and 94 beingapplied to the upper sides of webs 142 in the form shown.

The shell 66 is formed from a suitable plastic material, such aspolypropylene, molded to the shape indicated. The shell 66 is primarilydecorative in function, and servers no load supporting functions exceptin compression in the limited areas of screw holes 88. As indicated inFIGS. 6 and 7, the rim portion 70 of the shell 66 is formed to defineangled edge 210 that is continuous thereabout, and which is covered bythe molding 74.

The molding 74 is formed from a suitable vinyl material or the like suchas polyvinyl chloride, and has the Ushaped cross-sectional configurationshown in FIG. 9 to define a side portion 212 that engages the innersurface 214 of the shell, and an outer side 216 that is to be appliedover the outer surface 218 of the shell to mask the fastening screws 72.The side 216 is recessed as at 220 to complement the angled edge 210 ofthe shell, and is further recessed aa at 222 to receive the heads of therespective screws 72, it being understood that the recesses 220 and 222are continuous along the length of the molding 74. Molding 74 is appliedto the shell in strip form prior to application thereto of the seatsubassembly 64, and after the seat subassembly 64 has been positioned inthe shell 66 and screws 86 applied thereto, the assembler moves aboutthe rim portion of shell 66, lifting the molding sides 216 in overlyingrelation to the applied screw 72 to fully mask same. Screws 72 areapplied through molding side 212.

Molding 74 additionally serves as a bumper for the chair to protect theshell 16. The molding is so formed that the side portions 212 and 216engage each other at their edges 224 and 226 after extrusion so as toresiliently grip the shell rim portion 70.

Chair base 14 may be of any conventional type, that shown including theusual supporting legs 230 mounting casters 232 and applied to pedestal234 in any conventional manner.

It will therefore be seen that the invention provides a chairarrangement in the form of a load supporting framework that defines thebasic seat contour of the chair and has affixed thereto the chaircushion padding and arms (where arms are employed), which is applied toan outer, essentially load free shell that masks the chair frame fromthe rear of the chair and provides the desired rounded wrap aroundbucket seat type look. The shell at its underseat portion also partiallymasks the upper portion of the chair base by the upwardly directedindentation formed in same which also serves to locate the chair basefor securement to the chair frame through the material forming theshell.

The arrangement of the upholstery plates in permitting the cushioncovering fabric to be stapled to the back sides of same to hold thepadding in place provides significant simplification of assemblyprocedures.

The manner of applying the chair arms 88 and 90, whereby they aresecured to seat portion of the chair only, adapts the chair constructionof this invention for utilizing an articulating posture" back structurefor executive models of the chair.

The foregoing description and the drawings are given merely to explainand illustrate the invention and the invention is not to be limitedthereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, sincethose skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will beable to make modifications and variations therein without departing fromthe scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a shell chair including a chair base, a load bearing framesupported by the chair base and having seat and back cushion meanssecured thereto, and a load free shell of generally L'shapedconcavo-convex configuration secured to said base and underlying saidframe and defining a marginal rim thereabout, the improvement wherein:

said frame comprises a pair of generally L-shaped rigid frame memberssecured together in upright spaced apart substantially parallel relationto define a skeletal framework, with each of said frame members beingshaped to define chair seat and back portions,

said frame members being secured together at said seat portions thereofby a pair of spaced apart cross members in substantial parallelism andin fixed relation to said frame members,

contoured seat and back upholstering plates made fast to and betweensaid frame members in covering relation thereto and defining upwardlyand forwardly facing load support surfaces, respectively,

said upholstering plates each having cushion means secured over saidsurfaces thereof in masking relation thereto,

said framework, said plates and said cushion means forming a subassemblyof generally L-shaped configuration defining chair seat and backportions of which said cushion means defines the seating area of saidchair,

said subassembly being received within said shell with the seating areaof said chair facing outwardly of said shell,

said shell defining a chair seat under portion and a chair back portion,and the seat and back portions of said frame subassembly being receivedin said shell seat under portion and back portion respectively,

said shell and upholstering plates defining substantially complementingedge portions in substantial juxtaposition about the rim of said shellwhereby said skeletal frame is enclosed between and masked by said shelland said cushion means,

meansfor anchoring said upholstery plates to said shell at spaced pointsabout said edge portions,

said chair base being secured to said subassembly framework at said seatportion thereof,

with said shell seat under portion being interposed between said chairbase and said subassembly seat portion,

and a molding overlying said shell edge portion and masking saidanchoring means, said subassembly back portion being shaped to definealong the back portion of the chair seating area a lower forwardlyangled portion merging into an upper rearwardly angled portion to definea reverse bend in said subassembly back portion seating area in generalconformity with the back side of the human anatomy in the sittingposition, and having a forwardly projecting apex,

said upholstering plates of said subassembly back portion comprising apair of said plates, with one plate of said pair being located at saidlower subassembly back portion and the other of said plates beinglocated at said upper subassembly portion,

with said cushion means of said pair of plates being in juxtaposition atsaid reverse bend and defining a joint forming indentation lying alongsaid apex thereof.

2. The improvement set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said base is secured to said framework by fastener means making saidbase fast to said framework cross members,

said fastener means also making said shell seat under portion fast tosaid cross members.

3. The improvement set forth in claim 1 including:

a chair arm at each side of and secured to said subassembly seatportion,

said arms each being of open centered generally quadrilateral and planarconfiguration and each defining a pair of lugs extending downwardlythereof that are spaced apart in the plane of the respective arms,

and means for anchoring the respective arm lugs to the seat portions ofthe respective subassembly frame members and beneath said cushion meansof said subassembly seat portion to mount the respective arms at eachside of said subassembly.

4. The improvement set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said seat upholstering plate is concavely curved on its upwardly facingside and correspondingly convexly curved on its downwardly facing side,crosswise of the chair,

said frame cross members having a curvature complementing that of saidseat plate and said seat plate resting on said cross members and beingmade fast thereto.

5. The improvement set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said upholstery plates are formed from a plastic material,

said cushion means for each of said plates comprising:

a pad of resilient material proportioned to cover the plate to which itis secured,

and a sheet of decorator fabric received over and bearing against thepad with the edges of the sheet anchored to the underside of the plate.

6. The improvement set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said molding comprises:

a stripping of resiliently flexible material of generally U-shapedcross-sectional configuration defining opposed molding sides,

said shell edge portion defining an outwardly angled rim portionthereabout,

said molding being received over said shell rim portion with the moldingsides engaging the respective sides of said shell about the rim of saidshell,

with the side of said molding engaging the convex side of said shellbeing formed to receive said shell edge portion and accommodate saidanchoring means,

said molding serving as a bumper for said chair.

7. The improvement set forth in claim 3 wherein:

said means for anchoring the respective arm lugs to the respective framemembers comprises:

a pair of channel elements secured to each of said frame members andprojecting sidewise of the chair and spaced to receive the respectivearm lugs,

and screw means for securing the respective arm lugs to the respectivechannel elements.

1. In a shell chair including a chair base, a load bearing framesupported by the chair base and having seat and back cushion meanssecured thereto, and a load free shell of generally Lshapedconcavo-convex configuration secured to said base and underlying saidframe and defining a marginal rim thereabout, the improvement wherein:said frame comprises a pair of generally L-shaped rigid frame memberssecured together in upright spaced apart substantially parallel relationto define a skeletal framework, with each of said frame members beingshaped to define chair seat and back portions, said frame members beingsecured together at said seat portions thereof by a pair of spaced apartcross members in substantial parallelism and in fixed relation to saidframe members, contoured seat and back upholstering plates made fast toand between said frame members in covering relation thereto and definingupwardly and forwardly facing load support surfaces, respectively, saidupholstering plates each having cushion means secured over said surfacesthereof in masking relation thereto, said framework, said plates andsaid cushion means forming a subassembly of generally L-shapedconfiguration defining chair seat and back portions of which saidcushion means defines the seating area of said chair, said subassemblybeing received within said shell with the seating area of said chairfacing outwardly of said shell, said shell defining a chair seat underportion and a chair back portion, and the seat and back portions of saidframe subassembly being received in said shell seat under portion andback portion respectively, said shell and upholstering plates definingsubstantially complementing edge portions in substantial juxtapositionabout the rim of said shell whereby said skeletal frame is enclosedbetween and masked by said shell and said cushion means, means foranchoring said upholstery plates to said shell at spaced points aboutsaid edge portions, said chair base being secured to said subassemblyframework at said seat portion thereof, with said shell seat underportion being interposed between said chair base and said subassemblyseat portion, and a molding overlying said shell edge portion andmasking said anchoring means, said subassembly back portion being shapedto define along the back portion of the chair seating area a lowerforwardly angled portion merging into an upper rearwardly angled portionto define a reverse bend in said subassembly back portion seating areain general conformity with the back side of the human anatomy in thesitting position, and having a forwardly projecting apex, saidupholstering plates of said subassembly back portion comprising a pairof said plates, with one plate of said pair being located at said lowersubassembly back portion and the other of said plates being located atsaid upper subassembly portion, with said cushion means of said pair ofplates being in juxtaposition at said reverse bend and defining a jointforming indentation lying along said apex thereof.
 2. The improvementset forth in claim 1 wherein: said base is secured to said framework byfastener means making said base fast to said framework cross members,said fastener means also making said shell seat under portion fast tosaid cross members.
 3. The improvement set forth in claim 1 including: achair arm at each side of and secured to said subassembly seat portion,said arms each being of open centered generally quadrilateral and planarconfiguration and each defining a pair of lugs extending downwardlythereof that are spaced apart in the plane of the respective arms, andmeans for anchoring the respective arm lugs to the seat portions of therespective subassembly frame members and beneath said cushion means ofsaid subassembly seat portion to mount the respective arms at each sideof said subassembly.
 4. The improvement set forth in claim 1 wherein:said seat upholstering plate is concavely curved on its upwardly facingside and correspondingly convexly curved on its downwardly facing side,crosswise of the chair, said frame cross members having a curvaturecomplementing that of said seat plate and said seat plate resting onsaid cross members and being made fast thereto.
 5. The improvement setforth in claim 1 wherein: said upholstery plates are formed from aplastic material, said cushion means for each of said plates comprising:a pad of resilient material proportioned to cover the plate to which itis secured, and a sheet of decorator fabric received over and bearingagainst the pad with the edges of the sheet anchored to the underside ofthe plate.
 6. The improvement set forth in claim 1 wherein: said moldingcomprises: a stripping of resiliently flexible material of generallyU-shaped cross-sectional configuration defining opposed molding sides,said shell edge portion defining an outwardly angled rim portionthereabout, said molding being received over said shell rim portion withthe molding sides engaging the respective sides of said shell about therim of said shell, with the side of said molding engaging the convexside of said shell being formed to receive said shell edge portion andaccommodate said anchoring means, said molding serving as a bumper forsaid chair.
 7. The improvement set forth in claim 3 wherein: said meansfor anchoring the respective arm lugs to the respective frame memberscomprises: a pair of channel elements secured to each of said framemembers and projecting sidewise of the chair and spaced to receive therespective arm lugs, and screw means for securing the respective armlugs to the respective channel elements.